The Banner
Our Mission for 2022
Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Psalm 96:2-3
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from May 4 to 11.
Mums for Mom
NextGen Ministries @ BSBC (Opportunities for Children & Youth)
Helping Village of Hope
Wedding Bells
Myles on a Mission Update
Remembering Ukraine
Thank You for Giving
Welcoming Our New Custodian
Do You Like to Make Muffins?
Choir Calling! Will You Answer?
Upcoming Memorial Services
Sunday Morning, May 8
Upcoming Community Events
This Week @ BSBC
1. Mums for Moms
It’s a BSBC tradition, to decorate our worship spaces with mum plants on Mother’s Day. If you would like to place a mum plant ($15) in honour or in memory of a mother you know, please click below and provide us the information. We’ll do the shopping for you and you can pick up your mum plant after the services this Sunday.
When making your donation, please be sure to mark your gift “Mums for Moms.” We will acknowledge these gifts in the pre-service loop this Sunday and then in next week’s newsletter. Thank you!
2. NextGen Ministry @ BSBC
“Hands In!” Girl’s Ministry, Saturday, May 14
This is a new ministry group for elementary girls, held at KidzTown, one Saturday a month. The purpose is for girls to come together and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God. All are welcome to this event!
Who: Girls Kindergarten to Grade 5
What: Hands In! Girl’s Ministry
Where: KidzTown
When: This Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to noon
Why: To learn about God and connect with other girls
Note: Please bring a mask
FHS Production (Today), Wednesday, May 4
Youth are to meet at Fredericton High School at 6:40 p.m. The cost for this event is $20, please bring cash with you! Let us as a youth group go out and support some of our students and their hard work in production! Please also be praying for those who are in the production! Please reach out to Pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca) to let her know that your youth will be attending this event! Thank you so much!
There will be no youth group this Friday, so make sure to come out and support our fellow youth at the FHS production Today!
High School Youth Group
Starting Sunday, May 15 for 5 weeks we invite our high schoolers to come together for a group specifically for them! The time of the event will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome, and please feel free to reach out to Pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca) for more information. Invite friends out and come for a time of fellowship!
Graduation Recognition
If you have a graduating high schooler in your family and you would like them to be recognized as a graduate please reach out to Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca!
Please include:
their name
the high school they graduated from, and
what they are planning on doing after high school — if applicable!
Please send in the names of our grads as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly!
One Con, Saturday, June 4
Youth are invited to go to our upcoming youth conference! If your youth would like to be a part of this, please email Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca. The event is from 1 to 4 p.m. and it will be located either in Saint John or Moncton! If you would like more information or would like to volunteer as a driver for this event, please reach out to Pastor Nikki.
Sports Night, Friday, May 13
Our youth event next week will be a sports night. Youth are welcome to come out and invite friends to have a night of sport and fellowship!
Jericho Walk – Still Time to Donate
Thank you to all of those who participated, donated, and prayed for the Jericho Fundraiser! If you would still like to financially support the fundraiser for Green Hill Lake Camperships, when you send in the donation specify “Green Hill Lake Camp Fundraiser”!
We have some great events coming up, so keep a lookout in the banner for the upcoming events! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (Pastor Nikki) at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca, I look forward to seeing our Next Generation at these events! Please be praying for those leading in these ministries, and those participating in these ministries!
3. Helping Village of Hope
Last Sunday morning, May 1, we had the privilege of hearing powerful testimonies from Dan and Desmond, two men whose lives have been changed by God through the ministry of The Village of Hope in Tracey. If you were not present, be sure to watch the traditional or contemporary service recordings and have your faith encouraged by Dan and Desmond’s stories of HOPE against the backdrop of addiction. To God be the glory.
Village of Hope is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and we’d like to get them some “presents.” They are in need of practical items that are essential to their ministry. The “gift registry” is listed below.
If you can purchase an item, bring it to the church and leave it in one of the baskets in front of the Connections Centre desk. These collector baskets will be there until after the long weekend in May.
Helpful items (new or gently used) include:
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves for cleaning
Gardening gloves (men and women)
Food prep gloves
Aprons
Dish clothes and towels
Bath towels
Thank you for caring in this way!
4. Wedding Bells
This cute couple love Jesus and each other! And so, in Jesus’ name they will be wed this Saturday, May 7, in the sanctuary at BSBC.
Please pray for Meredith Clark, daughter of Paul and Carol Clark, and Caleb Cleghorn as they exchange their vows and commit themselves to serving Jesus together as husband and wife.
It has been my pleasure to get to know them over these past months and my privilege to perform the ceremony on Saturday.
I have the best “job” in the world!
Pastor Greg
5. Myles on a Mission Update
Reuben and Leah Myles have released an update on their missionary ministry at Faith Academy in the Philippines. Have a read, celebrate their news and pray for their ministry.
6. Remembering Ukraine
We continue to be astounded by the harrowing events in Ukraine. Personally, I have struggled to be fresh in prayer for believers and non-believers in Ukraine and Russia. This week I found the following article that was spiritually renewing. I pray that it will be a means of unleashing powerful prayer in your life.
In the hubbub of modern life, when we are running the carpools and taking out the trash and trying to keep tabs on our teens, things like the war in Ukraine can feel so far away. We feel removed, and therefore helpless, but God never leaves us without a way to love the body of Christ, even when some of our members are half a world away. All God’s people can pray with and for God’s people all the time. We thank God for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine (and in Russia) and pray for them to sense our Father’s presence and strength in the midst of intense and horrific suffering.
Here is a list of 5 things to pray for Ukraine…
For physical and spiritual protection: Psalm 91, 2 Cor 1:3-4, Lev 26:13
God of angel armies, we ask that you would work mightily for the spiritual and physical protection of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. We pray that you would keep your people safe from harm, command your angels to guard them, and hide them in the shelter of your wings. Where there is fear, oppression, death, and spiritual warfare, we ask in the perfect name of Jesus that you would trample Satan and his schemes. You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; comfort them in their afflictions. You are the Lord our God. As you brought Israel out of their oppression in Egypt, so, Father, we pray you break the yoke of oppression over the peoples of Ukraine (and of Russia).
That God would supply every practical need: Phil 4:19, Psalm 104:27-28, Prov. 3:27
God, you are able to supply every need of every one of your children according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Our brothers and sisters are looking to you now, to give them their food, their shelter, their protection, their medicines, their everything. When you open your hand, your people are filled with good things. We pray that we would not withhold good from those to whom it is due, but that by your Spirit we would give and do where it is in our power to act.
For the Growth of God’s Church: Col 4:2-4, Psalm 43:3, Psalm 40:3
Father, as awful and tragic as this war is, we pray that you may use it to open doors for your word, to declare the mystery of Christ to those who do not yet know him. Even in this deep darkness, Lord, send out your light and your truth; let them lead unbelievers to you. May your light and truth bring those who are far from you to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. Give believers (and unbelievers!) a new song of praise to you, so that many will see and fear and put their trust in you.
For the hearts of the persecutors: Mat 5:44, Psalm 54:4-7
Father, we are praying that our Ukrainian brothers and sisters will be able to love their enemies, to pray for those who are persecuting them. May they trust that you, Father, are their helper, and you are the upholder of their lives. You will return any evil upon their enemies; you will deliver them from every trouble.
Deliverance from evil: Jer. 15:21, Gal.1:4, Matt 6:13, Rev. 22:20
Rescue our brothers and sisters in Ukraine from the hands of the wicked and redeem them from the grasp of the violent. Jesus, you gave yourself for our sins so that you might rescue us from this present evil age; deliver your children from evil, for yours is the power and the kingdom and the glory forever. You are coming soon! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
(rootedministry.com)
I am reminded of the truth found in Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. If this is the case, then prayer is the ultimate weapon, and God invites all humanity to wield it for his glory.
Pastor Greg
7. Thank You For Giving
Praise God for the faithfulness of his people in response to global need. The Palm Sunday Evening Concert offering was designated for humanitarian relief in Ukraine, channelled through our national office — Canadian Baptist Ministries.
$3,992 was received on Palm Sunday evening. A further $1,875 came through the offering.
These funds have been sent to CBM and, we pray, are making a small difference in lives.
Thank you for giving.
8. Welcoming A New Member to Our Team
Your Board of Management is pleased to introduce the church family to Floyd Johnston, our new part-time custodian. Floyd hails from Fredericton, born and brought up in Islandview and now living on a farm (a horse, chickens and a couple of cats) in Durham Bridge.
In addition to his “hobby farm”, Floyd loves to garden. You might hit him up for a cucumber when the time is right! He and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 35 years. He has experience in custodial work and is a pewter smith.
Floyd is with us Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. WELCOME FLOYD!
We also express thanks to Mike Finnegan, our previous cleaner through Crystal Clean, who completed his time with us in mid-April. We wish Mike well in his future endeavours.
9. Do You Like to Make Muffins?
Muffins are distributed every Sunday night by our Street Ministry team. We are seeking two dozen muffins for each week’s ministry.
Here are the details:
To avoid an over-stocking of the freezer we're looking for just 2 dozen muffins delivered to the standing freezer in the main kitchen by Sunday of each week
Please wrap each muffin individually in clingwrap or placed it in a baggie before bringing them to the church (it’s so much easier to access the frozen muffins and more sanitary to serve them when individually wrapped)
Please put (1) your name, (2) the date and (3) STREET MINISTRY on the bag in which you put the wrapped muffins to bring them to the freezer
To ensure that we get a fresh supply each week, you are invited to click the link below and fill your name in by the week or weeks in which you will provide a dozen muffins. OR, for that person-to-person interaction, feel free to call the church office at 458-8348 and your information will be taken and added to the plan.
10. Choir Calling! Will You Answer?
Wednesday 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be a Choir Rehearsal in the church Sanctuary each week from April 27 to June 8. Young people age 13 through adult who enjoy singing for the Lord are encouraged to attend.
It has been two full years since a choir has been possible due to the pandemic. We're starting to rebuild this ministry in our church by offering one-hour rehearsals in the Sanctuary - socially distanced. David Steeves will serve as director and Gloria Tranquilla as accompanist. If you have been feeling called to take part in this music ministry and would like to learn more about singing in harmony — this is a great time to begin.
Instruction will be included as to how to read choral music and discover whether you should be a Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. Upon arriving on Wednesday we will create a list of names and email addresses as weekly updates and announcements are sent out. Please contact David Steeves if you have further questions.
11. Upcoming Memorial Services
The month of May will bring a number of Memorial Services for members of our church family who passed away in previous months. Thank you for praying for these families and, as able, coming to support them on the day.
Memorial Service for the Late Eldon Maston – Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m., BSBC Sanctuary (Masks Requested)
Memorial Service for the Late Marie Roberts – Saturday, May 28, 2 p.m., BSBC Sanctuary
12. Sunday Morning, May 8
“The worship to which we are called in our renewed state is far too important to be left to personal preferences, to whims or to marketing strategies. It is the pleasing of God that is at the heart of worship. Therefore, our worship must be informed at every point by the Word of God as we seek God’s own instructions for worship that is pleasing to Him.” — R.C. Sproul
Online or in person, we hope you’ll take time to connect with us this week!
As we celebrate God’s gift of mothering, in both services our guest preacher will be Dr. John Stackhouse from Crandall University. Considering I John 5:1-5 in a message entitled, “Faithful Living in a Weird Time.” This Sunday morning, Dr. Keith will be preaching in the Mandarin service.
In the gym, Jon Wilton will be leading worship. In the sanctuary, one of our ensembles will be singing, as well as Margaret and Claire Geldart and the ministry of the Adult Handbell Choir.
13. Upcoming Community Events
Elm City String Quartet
The Elm City String Quartet is back with a pairing of some of the two greatest quartet pieces by French composers. Both Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel used their unique approach to music to burst open the sonic pallet of the string quartet. The result is haunting melodies that soar over flourishes of colour, squeezing through chromaticism and expanding into open harmonies.
The concert will be offered on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at Wilmot United Church. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students. They will be following the venue's COVID-19 protocols. This includes distancing and masks. Part of the proceeds from this event will go towards the Wilmot United Church Benevolent Fund.
Grace Memorial String Ensemble & Friends Present Concert for Ukraine
Saturday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m., join us as we raise funds in support of Ukraine. The Grace Memorial String Ensemble & Friends will be performing at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, located at 536 Northumberland Street. A freewill love offering will be collected. Thank you for your support.
14. This Week at BSBC: May 4 to 11
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, May 4
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary and Choir Room)
6:30 BSBC Choir – Rebuild Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Group – Fredericton High School Production (FHS - Tom Morrison Theatre)
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
Thursday, May 5
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:30 New Life (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
10:00 Pastors Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Barnabas Centre)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (Carol Bray) (Family Room, FLC)
1:30 Small Group Bible Study (Mary McMulkin) (3rd Floor Conference Room, FLC)
6:30 Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, May 6
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Clark/Cleghorn Wedding Rehearsal/Dinner (Sanctuary/3rd Floor Assembly Area And Café)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Barnabas Center/KidzTown)
Saturday, May 7
9:00 Gym Set-Up (Gym)
9:30 Wilton Wedding Shower (3rd Floor Assembly Area/Café)
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
3:00 Clark/Cleghorn Wedding (Sanctuary)
Sunday, May 8
6:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 Preschool/KidzTown (1st Floor/KidzTown, FLC)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)
Monday, May 9
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
2:00 BSBC WMS (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Education Committee (3rd Floor, FLC)
Tuesday, May 10
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:00 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
5:30 Sports Friends (Charles Millette) (Gym)
6:30 DivorceCare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start (Gym/3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
7:00 “Walking With Jesus” Bible Study with Daniel Savard (Zoom)
Wednesday, May 11
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary and Choir Room)
6:30 BSBC Choir – Rebuild Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Family Room, Online And In Person)
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
